Restharrow

This is another interesting plant that has come up in the ex-arable fields we are restoring to chalk grassland at the nature reserve. Restharrow is so named due to the ability of its tough long rhizomes to bring a horse-drawn harrow to a stop. There are actually two closely-related species of restharrow - this is the more shrubby Spiny Restharrow, Ononis spinosa. You can see one of the quite substantial spines here, to the left of the pretty pink pea-type flowers.